Safe or vault



(No Model.)

D. O. PAIG-E.

SAFE 0R VAULT.

N0. 425,451 PatentedApr. 15, 1890.v

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicEQ DAVID O. PAIGE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SAFE OR VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part o' Letters Patent No. 425,451, dated April 15 1890.' Application filed September l1, 1889. Serial No. 323,662. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t 11i/Ly concern:

Beit known that I, DAVID O. PAIGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of W'ayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safes or Vaults; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains 'to make and use the same, reference vbeing had to the accompanying drawings, which,

form a part ot this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a View in section of a part of a safe-door embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating the spindles of the combination knob or handle. Fig. 3 is a variation. Figs. 4 and 5 are separate views of the washers.

I-Ieretofore in the construction of doors of safes and vaults in which the bolt-work or combination-tumblers have been operated from the outside by vspindles projecting through the door an element of insecurity has arisen, as follows: The said spindles must of necessity be fitted sufficiently loose so as to turn easily without binding and yet be tight enough to prevent the introduction of powder or other explosive into the safe about the spindle. To this end it has been customary to make them in conical or double conical form and to grind the spindle and its oritice to a close lit. This effectually prevented the introduction of powder; but it has been found that nitro-glycerine could be introduced around even such a close-fitting spindle. To

Y accomplish this the operator closes all ori ices except this at the spindle and one other. this second point he then applies an exhaustpump, by which he produces a more or less perfect vacuum within the safe. This can be relieved only bythe small amount of air that can enter about the spindle. I-Ie then feeds nitro-glycerine about the spindle, and the latter is thus sucked into the safe. lVhen enough has been inserted, it is exploded and results in forcing the safe-door from its seat and opens the safe. So, again, even though the nitro-gluifcerine might not be fed fully into the safe, it might be fed in around the orifice of the spindle, and by exploding it serve to disrupt the .plates or break and blow ont the Atv spindle or enlarge the opening through which glycerine could be readily passed.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide means whereby the safe or vault is made secure against the admission of nitro-glycerine or other explosive either about the spindles or around the edges of the door. To this end A represents a portion of a safe, and A its door,

B is the spindle of the combination-lock, and C the spindle of the door-handle, by which the train-bolts are thrown to lock or unlock the door.

D represents the various plates composing the safe-door. These spindles maybe of any usual forni. Those shown in the drawings are in double conical form.

E E represent washers, of leather, rubber, or other suitable material, grooved out at e, so that their thin edges shall constitute valves. The cavities e present, respectively, toward the interior andexterior, as shown. I place them as near as convenient to the ninner and outer surfaces of the safe-door.

E2 represents metallic or other washers, which may or may not be employed, dependent on whether the leather washers E E do or do not i'ill the cavities made for them. I then preferablyT soak the leather washers in oil or parafne or equivalent substance to soften the same and keep them soft.

Now, suppose an operator has closed the cracks, as explained, except at one of the spindles, and has applied his exhaust-pump, as described. He proceeds to exhaust the air from the interior, creating an inward suction at the spindle. It is apparent that the valveedges e of the outer leather washer E will at once close tight upon the spindle and valvecavity and prevent any ingress of air about the spindle. It will be impossible, therefore, by this means to introduce nitro-glycerine at this point. It prevents it from even starting in about the spindle. It is apparent that it cannot be introduced even through the first plate, and cannot, therefore, be worked into the cavities between the plates. Again, suppose he should attempt to exhaust through the space about one spindle while he endeavcred to feed the glycerine about the other spindle or into some other orifice. He would be at once thwarted, for atthat spindle where IOO his exhaust Was applied the valve of the inner Washer E Would close around the spindle, preventing egress of air, while the valve e of the Washer E on the other spindle would close and prevent ingress of glycerine at that point. Of course the form of the valve may be varied, and in some instances it might be in the form of a plain elastic Washer adapted to hug when the door is closed this lining, which I prefer to soak with some suitable iillin g, coinpletely closes the joint and prevents either the exhausting of the air or the admittance oi the explosive.

What I claim isl. The combination, with the spindle of a safe or vault door, of a valve or valves surrounding the spindle and adapted to prevent the passage of air or liquid along the spindle, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a safe-door and its spindle, of two valves surrounding the spindle, one adjacent to each Wall, each adapted to prevent ingress of air along the spindle from its respective end of the spindle, substantially as described.

3. The combination, With the sate-door and spindle, of a valve of leather hollowed out at e, as shown, and substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a safe-door, its spindle surrounded by one or more valves and the adjacent safe-Wall, of a lining of felt, leather, or analogous material filling the joint between the door and the Wall, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID O. PAIGE. lNitnesses:

C. J. SHIPLEY, A. J. BENEs. 

